Air pump to aerate fish containers



Oct. 21, 1947. R. M. WILLIAMS- AIR PUMP TO AERATE FISH CONTAINERS FiledJuly 19, 1946 I I I l A /x V ,5 94 M? INVENTOR. ROYAL M. WILLIAMS,

ATTORNEYS.

AVl liLRBL-E COPY 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to air pumps to aerate water and is moreparticularly concerned with an electrically operated air pump to aerateminnow containers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter referred to which can be readily connected to a source ofelectric supply, such as the battery of an automobile or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerating pump which inoperation interrupts the electric current intermittently t alternatelytake in fresh air and then emit it into a water container, thus feedingfresh oxygen thereto as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically operatedaerating pump of simpler and more compact construction than priordevices.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a currentinterrupter of simple and inexpensive construction for use inassociation with an air pump of the. character referred to.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view theinvention consists of the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings illustrating the 1 preferred embodimentof theinvention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the air pump and currentinterrupter wired for use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the current interrupter in operativeposition on the air pump.

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the several units in circuit with asource of electric current.

Like reference characters, as used in the description and drawings,designate the same structural parts.

I I is a U-shaped frame in the closed end of which is mounted a spoolmagnet II, the core 12 of which is secured to the frame by means of ascrew threaded into its end. An arcuate armature l3 of soft iron with anelongated arm I4 is fulcrumed between the two sides of frame l0,adjacent to the ends thereof and the armature and magnet core arecontiguous, as shown in igure 1, but having suitable clearance. Theulcrum is a shaft I5 disposed transversely. An 'ntegral sleeve [6 on theunderside of arm I4 is ounted to oscillate on said shaft and spacerashers I! are interposed between sleeve l6 and he walls of frame I0.

Forwardly of the said fulcrum point the arm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAIR PUMP T0 AERATE FISH CONTAINERS Royal M. Williams, Fort Worth, Tex.

, Application July 19, 1946,-Serial No. 684,995

I4 is provided with a vertically disposed aperture [8 for reception ofthe plunger 19 of a pump P which depends from a truss bar 20 spanningthe space between the ends of frame I0. The upper portion of saidplunger is threaded for an adjusting nut 2i and lock nut 22 positionedon the upper side of arm I4.

Mounted on a truss plate 23 connected to the frame ill above the magnetII is a jack compris-- ing two spaced conductor arms 24 and 25 ofunequal length with the longer one above. Interposed between said stripsat said place of mounting is an insulation block 26 and anotherinsulation block 21 is interposed between both of said arms and the saidtruss. The arms of the jack and the said insulation blocks are securedtogether and to the said truss by metal screws 28 which thread into thetruss.

The arms of the jack extend longitudinally of frame I0 and inparallelism, with the forward extremity of the upper one, 24, inproximity to the upper end of the pump plunger IE! but suitably spacedtherefrom. On the underside of said arm is a fiber block 29 positionedfor the pump plunger to strike. The shorter or under jack arm 25 isdesigned to be stationary while the upper arm 24 is designed for springaction when impinged by said plunger. On the upper side of arm 25adjacent its end is a contact point 30 which normally impinges the upperjack arm.

The opposite or rearward ends of said arms are suitably fashioned forwiring connections with an electric circuit to a source of supply, hereshown as a storage battery B. In the circuit is a toggle switch S toturn the current on and off, as desired. Where this device is set up inan automobile one of said wires can be connected to the ignition switch,the cigar lighter, trouble lamp socket, or elsewhere that connection canbe had with the battery, while the other wire would be grounded on somepart of the car.

Pump P consists of a case in two sections, an upper 3| and a lower one32 with annular flanges designed to be secured together by screws. Theupper section is in the form of a conical shell with a central aperture33 in the top for reciprocation therein of the plunger IS.

The lower section of the casing is provided in its top with a circularrecess 34 having two round apertures 35 and 36, serving respectively asthe outlet and intake ports of the air pump.

Below both ports are annular plug sockets for reception of centrallybored plugs 31 and 38 designed to thread part of the way into saidsockets. An extension 39 depending from plug 31 serves as a coupling fora length of hose 40 to induct fresh air into a minnow bucket M or othercontainer as illustrated in Figure 3. A Micarta disc 4] normally engagesthe valve seat surrounding outlet port 35 and serves as a valve.Interposed between said disc and the top of plug 31 is a coiled spring42 to normally seat the disc and close the port.

The intake valve assembly consists of a valve disc 43 seating on top ofplug 38 and a superimposed coiled spring 44 which impinges the upperwall of the plug socket and normally closes the intake port 36.

Interposed between the flanges of the casing sections is a vibratorydiaphragm 45 of rubberized cloth or other suitable material which isrein forced interiorly of the casing by upper and lower cupped discs @6.Mounted on the upper-disc and concentrically therewith, by means of ascrew through the diaphragm assembly which threads into its lower end,is the plunger [9. Washers are employed on top and bottom reinforcingdiscs where the screw passes through and the lower end of the plungerimpinges the upper washer.

Interposed between the said washer and the top wall of casing section 3!is a coiled spring 47 which surrounds plunger l9 and serves to returnthe diaphragm to lowered position when the jack is opened and thecircuit broken, as hereinafter explained more at length.

The aforesaid pump and circuit breaker may be readily contained in aportable case of metal or plastic, and approximately five inches long, 3/2 inches wide inside and 2% inches high inside, with a top, eitherhinged or removable. Easily carried, it will be convenient for afisherman. When so encased the frame ill of the circuit breaker will besuitably affixed to the bottom of the case and the circuit wiresarranged for ready connection with a battery circuit and ground.

In operation, when the jack arms are in contact and switch 8 is turnedto on position the circuit is closed through the coil of the magnet thusenergizing same and attracting armature Hi to core 52. core the armthereon pulls the plunger upward. This operates the diaphragm of thepump and sucks air in through the air intake plug 38 and the intakeport. When the plunger reaches the top of its upward stroke,approximately, the upper jack arm 24 of the current interrupter lifts itoff the contact point on jack arm 25 and thereby breaks the circuit andde-energizes the coil of the magnet. When this occurs, the coiled spring41 pulls the plunger l9 down and carries the diaphragm with it, therebyforcing the air entrapped in the pump case out through outlet port 35and the outlet valve plug 39 whence it flows into hose it and thence tothe water in the minnow bucket M. Upon completion of said down stroke ofplunger and diaphragm the jack arms As the armature swings toward the 7removed from one car to another.

4 resume contact and open the circuit, thus completing a cycle which isrepeated and oxygen supplied to the water in the container as long asswitch S is left on.

By use of the aforesaid apparatus oxygen can be supplied to a containerup to 200 gallons capacity provided the depth of water is not in excessof approximately 30 inches and minnows may be transported in largenumbers for long distances with neglible loss. In the case of a smallcontainer it will not be necessary to run the pump continuously, but ifallowed to run all the time, no injury to the fish will resulttherefrom. It will be understood that the device need not be attached tothe car permanently. When not in use it can be stowed away in the car orcan be As different embodiments may be made of this inventive conceptand modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it will be understood that the matter herein is to beinterpreted, as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

Electromagnetic means for actuating a liquid aerating pump, comprising asubstantially U- shaped frame, an electromagnet fixed on the inside ofthe bight of said frame with the core of said magnet extendinglongitudinally of the legs of said frame, a cross-shaft connecting saidlegs intermediate the ends thereof, an elongated arm pivotedintermediate its ends on said shaft, one end of said arm beingcontiguous to said magnet core and being arcuately bent to provide anarmature, an aerating pump mounted on the free ends of the legs of saidframe and including a reciprocable plunger extending through said legsat right angles thereto, a free end of said plunger extending beyondsaid legs, means operatively and readily detachably connecting thesecond end of said arm to said plunger inwardly of the free end thereof,a make-and-break device mounted on said frame and including aspring-actuating arm extending over said plunger in actuating proximityto the free end thereof, and a suitable source of electric poweroperatively connected to said magnet and to said make-and-break deviceto reciprocate said plunger.

ROYAL M. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,380,442 'I'rumble June 7, 19211,956,402 Scholl et al Apr. 24, 1934 2,029,374 Houston Feb. 4, 19362,293,542 Hamilton Aug, 18, 1942

